Bose SoundTouch end of life treatment: Difference between revisions
m Keith moved page Bose kills SoundTouch and speakers lose smart functionality to Bose SoundTouch end of life treatment: renamed the article to reflect recent developments |
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Bose launched the SoundTouch line in 2013 as premium wireless speakers with cloud-based multiroom audio capabilities. The original lineup included three speakers priced between $399 and $699. By 2015, Bose had expanded the range to include models starting at $200 and high-end home theater systems exceeding $1,000.<ref name="techspot">{{cite web |author=Jacobs |first=Skye |date=12 October 2025 |title=Bose's SoundTouch shutdown leaves connected speakers less "smart" |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/109830-bose-soundtouch-shutdown-leaves-connected-speakers-less-smart.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Va6aF |archive-date=26 Oct 2025 |access-date=16 October 2025 |website=Techspot |publisher=TechSpot}}</ref> | Bose launched the SoundTouch line in 2013 as premium wireless speakers with cloud-based multiroom audio capabilities. The original lineup included three speakers priced between $399 and $699. By 2015, Bose had expanded the range to include models starting at $200 and high-end home theater systems exceeding $1,000.<ref name="techspot">{{cite web |author=Jacobs |first=Skye |date=12 October 2025 |title=Bose's SoundTouch shutdown leaves connected speakers less "smart" |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/109830-bose-soundtouch-shutdown-leaves-connected-speakers-less-smart.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/Va6aF |archive-date=26 Oct 2025 |access-date=16 October 2025 |website=Techspot |publisher=TechSpot}}</ref> | ||
The SoundTouch platform offered Wi-Fi streaming from services including [[Spotify]], TuneIn, Pandora, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio, along with synchronized multiroom playback controlled through a mobile app. In 2018, Bose launched a new smart product line to supersede SoundTouch, including a separate app, Bose Music.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-28 |title=Bose introduces new smart speaker and soundbars |url=https://www.bose.com/pressroom/bose-introduces-new-smart-speaker-and-soundbars |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=Bose}}</ref> | The SoundTouch platform offered Wi-Fi streaming from services including [[Spotify]], TuneIn, Pandora, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio, along with synchronized multiroom playback controlled through a mobile app. In 2018, Bose launched a new smart product line to supersede SoundTouch, including a separate app, Bose Music.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-28 |title=Bose introduces new smart speaker and soundbars |url=https://www.bose.com/pressroom/bose-introduces-new-smart-speaker-and-soundbars |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=Bose |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251107181302/https://www.bose.com/pressroom/bose-introduces-new-smart-speaker-and-soundbars |archive-date=7 Nov 2025}}</ref> | ||
In 2020, Bose discontinued SoundTouch product sales but stated it would "support both the SoundTouch app and product software for the foreseeable future."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/smart_home/soundtouch_family.html |title=SoundTouch speakers |publisher=Bose|access-date=2025-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126202244/https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/smart_home/soundtouch_family.html|archive-date=2020-11-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> | In 2020, Bose discontinued SoundTouch product sales but stated it would "support both the SoundTouch app and product software for the foreseeable future."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/smart_home/soundtouch_family.html |title=SoundTouch speakers |publisher=Bose|access-date=2025-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126202244/https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/smart_home/soundtouch_family.html|archive-date=2020-11-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
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==='''January revision'''=== | ==='''January revision'''=== | ||
On January 7, 2026, Bose emailed their customers with a revised plan for the end of SoundTouch cloud service:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2026-01-07 |title=Bose SoundTouch support discontinued |url=https://www.bose.com/soundtouch-end-of-life |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Bose}}</ref> | On January 7, 2026, Bose emailed their customers with a revised plan for the end of SoundTouch cloud service:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2026-01-07 |title=Bose SoundTouch support discontinued |url=https://www.bose.com/soundtouch-end-of-life |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Bose |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203230119/https://www.bose.com/soundtouch-end-of-life |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
*The end of service date has been extended from February 18 to May 6. | *The end of service date has been extended from February 18 to May 6. | ||
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The announcement generated immediate negative reaction across multiple platforms. On Reddit's r/bose forum, users posted hundreds of angry responses. One customer wrote: "So basically they will become expensive bricks in 6 months. I'm fuming. I have like $3k invested in these. Been Bose customer for over 40 years. Will never buy from them again."<ref name="register">{{cite web |author=Speed |first=Richard |date=13 October 2025 |title=Bose kills SoundTouch: Smart speakers go dumb in Feb |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/13/bose_reminds_users_that_nothing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BQVdO |archive-date=26 Oct 2025 |access-date=16 October 2025 |website=The Register |publisher=The Register}}</ref> | The announcement generated immediate negative reaction across multiple platforms. On Reddit's r/bose forum, users posted hundreds of angry responses. One customer wrote: "So basically they will become expensive bricks in 6 months. I'm fuming. I have like $3k invested in these. Been Bose customer for over 40 years. Will never buy from them again."<ref name="register">{{cite web |author=Speed |first=Richard |date=13 October 2025 |title=Bose kills SoundTouch: Smart speakers go dumb in Feb |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/13/bose_reminds_users_that_nothing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BQVdO |archive-date=26 Oct 2025 |access-date=16 October 2025 |website=The Register |publisher=The Register}}</ref> | ||
A Change.org petition was started, urging Bose to maintain SoundTouch support and rapidly gaining over 1000 signatures. It characterized the decision as "planned obsolescence" that "devalues considerable financial investments" and called Bose's offered compensation "largely a consolation."<ref name="changeorg">{{cite web |url=https://www.change.org/p/urge-bose-to-maintain-soundtouch-cloud-support |title=Urge Bose to maintain SoundTouch cloud support |publisher=Change.org |date=9 October 2025 |access-date=16 October 2025}}</ref> | A Change.org petition was started, urging Bose to maintain SoundTouch support and rapidly gaining over 1000 signatures. It characterized the decision as "planned obsolescence" that "devalues considerable financial investments" and called Bose's offered compensation "largely a consolation."<ref name="changeorg">{{cite web |url=https://www.change.org/p/urge-bose-to-maintain-soundtouch-cloud-support |title=Urge Bose to maintain SoundTouch cloud support |publisher=Change.org |date=9 October 2025 |access-date=16 October 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213084042/https://www.change.org/p/urge-bose-to-maintain-soundtouch-cloud-support |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref> | ||
Bloomberg reported on customer Richard Lomas, whose aunt and uncle in their 80s rely on SoundTouch presets for entertainment at their assisted living facility. Lomas stated the elderly relatives have dementia and cannot use Bluetooth or AirPlay alternatives. He called the decision a "red line" and said he owns over $1,000 in Bose equipment but would never purchase from the company again.<ref name="bloomberg" /> | Bloomberg reported on customer Richard Lomas, whose aunt and uncle in their 80s rely on SoundTouch presets for entertainment at their assisted living facility. Lomas stated the elderly relatives have dementia and cannot use Bluetooth or AirPlay alternatives. He called the decision a "red line" and said he owns over $1,000 in Bose equipment but would never purchase from the company again.<ref name="bloomberg" /> | ||